General (retired) Faiz Ali Chishti, the patron-in-chief of the Pakistan Ex-Servicemen Society (PESS), made a rather startling claim about the assassination attempt on PTI chief Imran Khan. “If Imran Khan had to be assassinated, then the results would have been different.”

The attacker probably did not intend to kill Imran Khan, Gen (rtd) Chishti said while addressing a press conference alongside his colleagues at the National Press Club Islamabad.

He questioned who was behind the attack, what the reason behind it, and what was the mission of the accused shooter.

Speaking about PTI chief’s demands for early elections, Chishti said that there was no need for snap polls and that the next general election should be held on time.

“The prime minister has the constitutional right to appoint the new army chief,” he said, adding that Imran Khan was reiterating that the new army chief should be appointed on merit. “Then merit is the recommendations made by the outgoing army chief who makes wise recommendations based on performance.”

He said that the reason behind the delay in the announcement of the new army chief’s name might be the consultation of the prime minister with other leaders and stakeholders. “It has been seven months since Shahbaz Sharif came into power and he knew that the army chief has to be appointed.”

Chisti regretted dragging the army into politics saying that the responsibility of the army was to protect the borders, but the army was being accused of rigging the elections.

He said that Pakistan’s bureaucracy, institutions and army worked hard. “I saw Pakistan breaking up, today I see Pakistan sinking,” he said while referring to the current political instability in the country.

“Bureaucracy is the backbone of the country’s administration, ministers come and go, but the army remains part of the government, all the systems are fine, there are faults in those who run the system,” he said, adding that the situation in the country was getting worse

He said that ex-servicemen had the right to participate in politics. “Why ex-servicemen cannot join politics,” he questioned.

Ex-serviceman’s reaction to Gen. Chishti’s statement

Following Chishti’s presser, PESS issued a statement in reaction to his statement during the press conference.

“There was no need for the press conference by Lt. Gen Faiz Ali Chishti,” PESS said in a tweet, adding that Chisthti’s statement was in a personal capacity as a senior citizen and head of a political party which the PESS didn’t approve.